The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is ready to host Workers’ Day celebrations on Wednesday 1 May with events taking places across all nine provinces.

Workers’ Day has traditionally been observed by workers across the world as a day to honour the sacrifices of countless workers and the struggles of generations to improve the working and living conditions of the working class.  It became a public holiday after many years of campaigns for it to be declared as such by COSATU and its predecessors.

It is an opportunity to celebrate the many victories COSATU and workers have achieved with our alliance partners, the African National Congress and South African Communist Party, since 1994 from our constitutional democracy to our progressive labour laws, from the 60% of the budget spent investing in working class communities to minimum and social wage achievements boosting workers’ incomes.

It is a moment for workers and COSATU to put pressure on the state and employers to do more to pay workers a living wage, tackle unemployment, grow the economy and invest in public services.

As we head towards the final stretch to the May 29th general elections, it is a rallying point to mobilise workers to come out in the millions on election day and return the ANC to office to continue our efforts to build a better life for all.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions will be holding its National May Day celebrations at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, Western Cape on the 1st of May 2024.  COSATU President Zingiswa Losi will deliver the keynote address and Alliance partners; the African National Congress President Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African Communist Party General Secretary Solly Mapaila and the South African National Civic Association President Richard Mkhungo will deliver solidarity messages.

The International Worker’s Day Celebrations are anchored under the Theme: “Building a strong and united COSATU in Mobilising for the ANC electoral victory”.

Members of the media are invited to COSATU’s final press briefing to outline the programme and preparations for celebrating the International Worker’s Day in South Africa.  Alliance leaders will address the Briefing.

The final press briefing will be held as follows:

  • Venue: COSATU Western Cape Provincial Office, Community House,

Salt River, Cape Town

  • Date:    30 April 2024
  • Time:    10H00

The Federation will host rallies across all nine provinces. Below are the venues, times and contact details.  Journalists are requested to register for accreditation beforehand.

Western Cape (National Event)

Northern Cape

Limpopo

KwaZulu-Natal

Gauteng

Free State

Eastern Cape

Mpumalanga

North West:

Issued by COSATU.

For further comment please contact:

Matthew Parks

Acting National Spokesperson & Parliamentary Coordinator

Cell: 082 785 0687

Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za

Cape Town, South Africa